Pakistan complains to Twitter, Facebook over suspension of pro-Kashmir accounts

Pakistan complains to Twitter, Facebook over suspension of pro-Kashmir accounts

After Twitter and Facebook suspended dozens of pro-Kashmir accounts on request of the Indian government, Pakistan has said it will take up the issue with the social media platforms.

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Hamza Ameer

Islamabad

August 19, 2019

UPDATED: August 20, 2019 00:16 IST

During the past one week, dozens of Pakistani Twitter handles have been suspended after India reported them to Twitter and Facebook.

After social media platforms Twitter and Facebook suspended dozens of pro-Kashmir accounts on request of the Indian government, Pakistan Army representative Major General Asif Ghafoor has decided to take the matter up with the social media sites, demanding the resumption of social media handles that post in support of Kashmir.

This was revealed through the personal Twitter account of Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Ghafoor. He said that the authorities will be taking the matter up with Facebook and Twitter.

In his tweet, Asif Ghafoor accused Indian regional headquarter staff of the social media platforms as the reason why the accounts have been suspended.

Pakistan authorities have taken up case with Twitter & Facebook against suspending Pakistani accounts for posting in support of Kashmir. Indian staff at their regional Headquarters is the reason. Please post in reply suspended accounts that you know.

However, many Indian social media users, who responded to his tweet, accused Pakistani Twitter handles of spreading "fake and false propaganda". Many netizens even trolled Asif Ghafoor's tweet.

@Twitter@TwitterSafety this is the reason Ghafoora wants accounts creating false propaganda to be Active .What happens when a Person on Top of the food chain is the cause of Mayhem , Spreading lies and Misinformation.A Big cospiracy Exposed pic.twitter.com/nxFFycuQwm

Some users also resorted to abusing and Pakistan bashing which resulted in counter-trolling from the Pakistani side -- which started a big fight, filled with abuses against each other.

Indians crying about false propaganda! Sometimes you fall in the pit you dug for others. Indians must stop warmongering and return back to ground and see the reality of Kashmiris plight at the hands of their occupying forces in IOK. Let them have their Say, that's all pak asks 4

During the past one week, dozens of Pakistani Twitter handles have been suspended after India reported them to Twitter and Facebook, accusing the accounts of sharing propaganda through false videos and images which claim to portray the current situation of Jammu and Kashmir.

Since then, Pakistani social media users have been campaigning under the hashtag #StopSuspendingPakistanis on Twitter. The users claim that Twitter has suspended accounts that have posted in support of Jammu and Kashmir.

The most recent Twitter account suspension was that of one of belonging to a Pakistani daily Express Tribune's correspondent. The suspension reportedly came after he had responded to a tweet from Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

"Indian government officials have admitted, on social media, to putting pressure on Twitter to suspend accounts tweeting in favour of Kashmir and against the Indian occupation regime", claimed Express Tribune.